Cruz, Paul, Rubio among 18 Republicans who voted against the debt-ceiling bill

The bill to lift the debt ceiling and re-open the government was a contentious one within Republican ranks. Of the 46 Republicans in the upper chamber, 18 voted against the bill.

There was little surprise that Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah voted against the legislation after they led a marathon talking session against the bill on the grounds that it did not defund the Affordable Care Act.

Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Tim Scott of South Carolina voted to end debate on the bill but against the legislation.

John Cornyn, who has a testy relationship with his fellow Texas senator, joined Cruz in voting “no.” Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Florida’s Marco Rubio — likely contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 — also voted “no.”